Hospital bosses are to carry out a “detailed review” into the future of a Northumberland hospital ward they claim is “underused”.

Earlier this month the NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust announced the 12-bed inpatient ward at Rothbury Community Hospital had shut for three months.

Now the CCG has confirmed the next steps following the temporary suspension of round-the-clock treatment at the hospital.

It says it will be carrying out a detailed review, working closely with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to “look at the declining bed occupancy levels and low use of inpatient services at the hospital which have been evident for a number of years”.

The CCG will report its findings at a public meeting to be held in Rothbury on November 17, the details of which are currently being confirmed.

New inpatient admissions at Rothbury were suspended on September 2 in light of the low use of the ward which, staff say, saw only 50% of beds being occupied at any one time throughout the whole of last year - a figure which dropped to 35% bed occupancy for July 2016.

The move prompted fury among some residents, who set up the ‘Save Rothbury Cottage Hospital’ campaign group. and a petition objecting against the plans.

Rothbury Community Hospital

Rothbury councillor Steven Bridgett criticised the move saying the community was not consulted over the plans.

The suspension of new admissions does not affect any other services which operate from Rothbury Community Hospital, including all physiotherapy, occupational therapy, outpatients, child health clinics and community paramedic services, which are all continuing as normal.

Dr Alistair Blair, chief clinical officer at NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We would like to reiterate our firm reassurance to people in Rothbury that no permanent decision has been taken about the future of inpatient services.

“We wholeheartedly understand some of the concerns that have been raised to us which will need to be fully considered as we move forward and are very keen to engage with the local community as soon as possible.”

Dr Jeremy Rushmer, executive medical director at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Although we take operational decisions like this every day when wards are not being used, unlike some of our other hospitals, this is the only inpatient ward in Rothbury and we therefore completely understand the heightened awareness.

“We are absolutely committed to listening to the views of local people and would encourage people who have any questions to come along to one of our engagement sessions in the comings weeks.”